Aleyamma Vijayan's calling card says ‘Gender consultant.' A few years ago, eyebrows would have been raised at her definition of her work. But, in a way, it neatly encapsulates her vocation for many decades, including the work of Sakhi Women's Resource Centre, a pioneering non-governmental organisation she co-founded 15 years ago. For several years now, Aleyamma Vijayan has been studying and documenting various aspects of gender issues in Kerala and, in the process, becoming a friend, mentor and saviour for many women in Kerala.
“The idea of a place like Sakhi was born after the Beijing conference in 1996. While there were several representatives from other states in India, we were just seven women from Kerala. That was when we, a group of feminists and women's organisations in Kerala, felt the need for an autonomous organisation that would bring the issue of gender into the public discourse,” recalls Aleyamma.
She points out that many women's organisations in the State are attached to political parties or caste and religious organisations.
Initially, an independent network called Kerala Streevedi was begun to take up women's issues. A little later, Sakhi was established to support and nurture a women's movement, to help build leadership and to initiate a process of public discourse on gender and development. Aleyamma is now writing a book on the journey and the evolution of the organisation.
Over the years, volunteers of Sakhi have consistently intervened in several capacities on women's issues in the State. Although Sakhi was meant to be a one-stop place for research and documentation of subjects related to women studies, the evolution of the organisation has seen it make its presence felt in various women-related topics that rocked the State.
“Even before we could be on our feet, we were pitchforked into agitations over ‘sex rackets' that were surfacing in the State. Certain cases of harassment at the workplace hit the headlines on account of the people involved in the case. But many of the cases have been going on for years… Justice delayed is justice denied. It acts as a deterrent by preventing other women from complaining about harassment at the workplace,” she says, disappointment writ large on her face.
In the meantime, the volunteers of Sakhi moved on to other programmes to foster gender sensitivity in different levels of government and society.
“Gender sensitisation training programmes for government and panchayat employees, leadership building sessions for women and adolescent girls, conducting surveys and gender studies and so on have all been successfully conducted by volunteers of Sakhi,” explains Aleyamma with justifiable pride in their work. Instead of confining herself to the ivory tower of research, Aleymmma's work takes her to frontline of gender issues.
“I began my career as a social worker by studying problems of the fishing communities in Kerala and so I cannot be only a researcher and turn a blind eye to several burning issues that women in Kerala are confronting today,” she says.
Diversifying Sakhi's work
Sakhi has diversified their work to campaign against child sexual abuse, harassment at public places, political reservation for women, gender planning and budgeting, the Domestic Violence Act and so on.
Unlike many founders who find it difficult to let go and build a second line of leadership, Aleyamma chose to retire voluntarily when she completed 60 years two years ago.
As she sets about to write about Sakhi's journey, Aleyamma says perhaps the time has come for gender training programmes for men!
“We are going through a period of great transition and its effects are to be seen everywhere. Initially, our efforts were to sensitive women to the question of gender, status of women and bring the concept of gender into the public discourse. I feel that, to a certain extent, we have succeeded in that effort,” says Aleyamma.
But she feels that there is a great deal of tension in society as women begin to claim their rightful space and assert themselves, socially and economically.
As the State goes though rapid social and economic change, Aleyamma feels it is all the more important to pay attention to ensure that the questions related to gender are brought to the forefront.
“Child abuse, rising rates of divorce, problems confronting a population that is rapidly greying, a social system that is ill-prepared to help senior citizens…” she adds.
For Sakhi, the work continues... And now, in her Baker-built house at Asan Nagar in the city, appropriately called ‘Maithri,' Aleyamma goes back to documenting her work as a gender consultant in Kerala.
“I am a researcher, not a writer. This is a new role for me,” she says with a smile.
Milestones
Sakhi was set up with the support of the John D and Catherine T. Mac Arthur Foundation, a three-year fellowship that was awarded to Aleyamma for her work among maginalised communities in Kerala.
Sakhi's centre at Vanchiyoor has more than 7,000 books, journals, magazines, newspaper clippings, posters, audio and videocassettes and CD's… all related to women.
Working with adolescents to groom future leaders. This project, funded by the Ford Foundation, helps Sakhi in conducting life skill education for teenagers in 10 panchayats in Thiruvananthapuram. They also plan to do pre-marital courses for youngsters, men and women.
Brought out a series of manual for gender training and a called ‘Viriyunna Mukkulangal' to impart life skill training for girls.
Conducted a study on the status of women in 60 panchayats.
Observes a 16-day campaign on violence against women from December 10 to 16.
Recently, Sakhi volunters conducted a survey in Mararikulam panchayat to find out the level of social among women there.
